2017 Newsletters

21st November 2017: Taiji: basic movement patterns and body coherenceThis is an excellent piece by Sam Moor – really well written and easy to read – covers so much of what I try to get across to students. Read more …

9th November 2017: Classes and Events over the Christmas periodA list of classes cancelled over Christmas and New Year, along with information on other events being held over this period. Read more …

3rd November 2017: Chen Taijiquan’s Integrated Curriculum by David GaffneyA great insight into Chen Tai Chi by a very experienced martial artist with long term connections to the school at the Chen Village. Read more …

4th October 2017: Tai Chi and Alexander Technique Seminar at The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living on the 12th November 2017Widely experienced Alexander teacher Judy Hammond and long-term Tai Chi instructor Ian Deavin have created a program of physical and mental exercises suitable for both complete beginners or for more experienced exercisers. Read more …

13th June 2017: Tai Chi and Alexander Technique Seminar at The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living on the 16th July 2017Widely experienced Alexander teacher Judy Hammond and long-term Tai Chi instructor Ian Deavin have created a program of physical and mental exercises suitable for both complete beginners or for more experienced exercisers. Read more …

6th June 2017: On the development of Natural MovementIn Tai Chi we talk about natural movement and tend to think of it in quite specific, almost jargon, terms – as the movement which develops when the body is relaxed and moving from the centre. Read more …

4th May 2017: First Shefford Tai Chi Festival – successful and fun!The last Saturday in April is designated by the World Health Organisation as World Tai Chi and Chi Kung Day – so this year we decided to have a festival of Tai Chi and related arts at the Community Hall in Shefford. And it was BRILLIANT! Read more …

4th April 2017: An external view of the internal art of Tai Chi
(working from the outside in)Try standing in front of a mirror with your arms lightly out and palms up. Then open the hands as far as you can. Relax and let them spring back – can you feel the spring in your hands? That is an internal feeling. Read more …

7th March 2017: Attending martial arts classes for beginnersDo not over exert – adapt the exercises to suit your capability. If the instructor says he/she is going to demonstrate, move to a position where you can see what you need to. Read more …

22nd February 2017: A Match Made in Heaven: Healthy Movement from Tai Chi & Alexander Technique by Ian Deavin & Judy HammondOver my many years of studying and teaching Tai Chi I have recognised that much of individual movement stems from habit – we learn to walk at around 1 year old and then pay it little attention to it until some 60 or so years later when, having accumulated many random poor habits of posture and movement, we notice a certain lessening of physical ability and vulnerability of balance usually coupled with physical and emotional tensions. Read more …

7th February 2017: Tai Chi and Alexander Technique Seminar at The Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living on the 5th March 2017Widely experienced Alexander teacher Judy Hammond and long-term Tai Chi instructor Ian Deavin have created a program of physical and mental exercises suitable for both complete beginners or for more experienced exercisers. Read more …

10th January 2017: Standing, walking, running – all the sameIt is interesting that as we work with Tai Chi movement we start to find more and more similarities, so, for example, when I am doing Chi Kung I find quiet continuous movement. In walking I find calmness and in my daily jogging I find calmness also. Read more …

Search the website

Follow us on LinkedIn

Student Testimonials:

- "I hold myself a lot better."

- "Knowing when my posture is bad it reminds me to straighten up, relaxation which can be done at home and also feeling better in my body."

- "The other day I ran upstairs like I used to – for the first time in years."

- "My handwriting has improved – my hand used to shake but it is much steadier now."

I have discovered something marvellous. This morning I had a sore throat, felt slightly feverish and was out of sorts because I hadn't slept very well. Then I went to a session of Alexander technique, mixed with Tai Chi. (At Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living). I came away feeling absolutely marvellous. I still have a sore throat and a bit of a high temperature - but my sense of wellbeing is so great that it really doesn't seem to matter. Thank you Ian Deavin and Judy Hammond for a great Sunday morning! - Julie Furnivall

- "I feel more relaxed here."

- "It has taken away the fear of falling."

- "I am more aware of my posture – by doing the exercises it has helped with my backaches. My knees are also much improved….I have suffered pain for several years."

- "I’d suffered with sciatica for over 10 years and working at a desk bent over a computer screen really didn’t help. I had to have expensive back manipulation and decompression once a month, just to reduce the pain enough for me to function. Tai Chi was suggested to me as something that may help, so I thought “give it a try, what’s the worst that could happen”. By the end of the first month my back pain diminished, and I’ve never needed any treatment since starting.

It worked for me, but I didn’t stop then because I thought, “what else can this do for me?”. I look at Tai Chi as an insurance policy for health and wellbeing as I get older. Don’t believe for one moment that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, or course you can, as an old dog myself I can vouch for that. I’ve been learning Tai Chi for over 4 years and every lesson opens a new door to understanding how I function now, and gives me the tools to become better.

The classes are structured but with no pressure on you and you learn at your own speed. Every teacher I’ve met, including my fellow students, who I also learn from, have been friendly and supportive. People at the classes are not judgemental on how well you perform, because we are all still learning. Every lesson has left me feeling good and given me something to think about for the next week.

The best bit is that you can do Tai Chi whenever you want, where ever you want. When I’m standing in queues, I’m training. Waiting for my wife while shopping, I’m training. Sitting at the desk, I’m training. Taking the dog for a walk, yes I’m still training. Now it’s a part of my life, and in a good way. My posture is much better, I’m steadier on my feet and feel healthy and well-balanced as a person.

If you feel old and want to feel younger, groan getting up or sitting down, or take longer to straighten your back, or you can’t remember the last time you stood upright, or you think that you’re too old to learn anything new, give Tai Chi a go, you will not regret it. There are over 250 million people doing some form of Tai Chi, so give it a try to feel what they feel" - Steve Milsom

- "Since starting tai chi with Ian I have noticed an increase in energy levels and a calmer state of mind. It does take work and practice, but is most definitely worth the effort" - Carla N

- "The classes have taught me to sit, walk and generally hold myself up properly. They have helped to ease tension especially in my back and to relax my body."

- "I don’t need to hold onto the bannister rail now when I go up or down stairs."

- "Better movement in lower back."

- "I was rather apprehensive when I attended my first drop in Tai Chi session! I was made very welcome and found I enjoyed participating in the gentle exercise under the tuition of Ian. Tai Chi has helped my posture and balance, especially when walking" - Janet Hill

Our Tweets ...

Get updates from the Tai Chi Blog

Ian Deavin, 68 Ampthill Road, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5BB, United Kingdom.Clickhere to read our privacy policy and for more information on the cookies used on this websiteWebsite designed and managed by:The Industrial Marketing Agency